Aired on August 12, 2025
Version 1: The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was an accurate name when it was dug 125 years ago to connect the Chicago River on the west side to the Des Plaines River in the Joliet area, diverting sewage from Lake Michigan. But Benjamin Cox, Executive Director of Friends of the Forest Preserves, says times change and maybe names should.
“More of an asset. And you know, right now it does sound like something that you should send your sewage in. And then, it’s only for shipping or barges or something like that.”
Friends of the Forest Preserves are part of a coalition, which includes Friends of the Chicago River, to change the name of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. They have a petition looking for suggestions. It could happen relatively soon.
“Maybe next year if we’re lucky.”

– Terry Kashner, 105.9 WBBM

Version 2: There’s a coalition conducting a survey to change the name of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which was dug 125 years ago to connect the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River, diverting sewage from Lake Michigan. But it doesn’t do that anymore, and preservationists want to redefine the canal to more broadly support human, ecological and economic health. Benjamin Cox is Executive Director of Friends of the Forest Preserves.
“The hope is to submit the recommendation by the end of the year. Then you know, then it’s a matter of how long does it take to sort of move through the bureaucracy of that.”
So, what would be a better name for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal?
“Thinking, you know like, Ernie Banks Canal, you know, the Ditka River or something,” reporter says. “But probably not.”

– Terry Kashner, 105.9 WBBM